Archive for Gardening And Outdoor

Indoor Growing? Phototron Gives 5 Healthy Reasons to Join the ?Grow Your Own? Revolution

February 18, 2012 admin Gardening And Outdoor

Indoor Growing? Phototron Gives 5 Healthy Reasons to Join the “Grow Your Own” Revolution













Indoor gardeners can grow ripe tomatoes in just 45 days.


Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) February 18, 2012

Phototron Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: PHOT) (OTCQB: PHOT), the Los Angeles hydroponic grow box company that is leading the indoor mini-greenhouse revolution, is seeing rapid growth in the “grow your own” market. For those still on the fence about indoor growing, Phototron offers five important points to consider.

#1 Grow Year Round

Being able to control the climate is one of the greatest benefits of an indoor growing system. In addition to providing shelter from inclement weather, snow, frost, humidity and heat waves, gardeners can control the amount of daylight hours. This enables gardeners to grow ripe tomatoes in just 45 days from germination.

#2 Grow in Small Areas

Would-be gardeners with limited space, like apartments and condos, can still enjoy fresh homegrown fruits and vegetables by gardening indoors. All of the Phototron grow cabinets are only 21 inches wide and deep, so they take up less than 1 square foot of indoor floor space.

#3 Protected from Invaders

There is nothing worse to gardeners than going out to harvest their crops and finding that a gopher, rabbit, birds or worms literally ate their lunch. Or maybe their dog or children ran over or accidentally dug up the garden. Indoor growing in a protected grow cabinet prevents these types of situations.

#4 Guaranteed Natural

Store-bought tomatoes are often picked green and chemically induced to ripen, leaving them hard and tasteless. Personal indoor gardens eliminate the health risks associated with ripening chemicals and other contaminates like pesticides, E. coli and salmonella that are often found in store-bought produce. Indoor gardeners get the 100% of the available nutritional value because their fruits and veggies go directly from the plants to their plates.

#5 Water Efficiency

Farming consumes 70% of the water consumed on the planet, and most of it is wasted. In a Phototron indoor hydroponic system, water is conserved because it only uses 10% of the water typically used in an outdoor garden.

“For the past 20 years, we have enabled people to grow their own plants using our state-of-the-art indoor controlled-environment hydroponic grow systems, nutrients and supplies,” said Craig Ellins, Phototron’s CEO. “Phototrons are now seen as less of a luxury item, and more of a compulsory item, like a stove or refrigerator, in contemporary kitchens.”

For more information about indoor growing, or to purchase or inquire about carrying Phototron products, call (800) 651-2837 or go to http://www.phototron.com.

About Phototron Holdings, Inc.

Phototron Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: PHOT) (OTCQB: PHOT) designs and manufactures cutting-edge indoor mini-greenhouses capable of year-round growth of herbs, vegetables, flowers, fruits and medicines, better, stronger and faster than traditional farming methods.

The Phototron Hydroponic Indoor Grow System, commonly called grow boxes, is built upon decades of research on the optimal temperature, light, water and nutrient needs of plants. The Phototron System uses proprietary lighting that mimics the sun’s rays to grow nutrient-rich, pesticide-free, eco-friendly crops faster and in more bountiful quantities than those of traditional gardening methods, resulting in fruits and vegetables of superior taste and quality.

Phototron systems and accessories are available for purchase from the Company’s website. Phototron supports the sale and use of its products to the home medical marijuana market where compliant with applicable laws. Phototron also supplies a full range of parts, accessories and advanced nutrients to more than 50,000 customers.

For comprehensive investor relations material, including fact sheets, presentations, conference calls and video, please follow go to http://www.phototron.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently unreliable and actual results may differ materially.

Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding new growth initiatives and accelerated growth, successfully monetizing MLM business model, marketing and distribution plans, development activities and anticipated operating results.

Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include such factors as the Company’s ability to accomplish its business initiatives, significant fluctuations in marketing expenses and ability to achieve and expand significant levels of revenues, or recognize net income, from the sale of its products and services, as well as the introduction of competing products, or management’s ability to attract and maintain qualified personnel necessary for the development and commercialization of its planned products, and other information that may be detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Long Blooming Shrubs For The Home Gardener

February 12, 2012 admin Gardening And Outdoor

Long Blooming Shrubs For The Home Gardener










Woodbine, MD (PRWEB) June 13, 2007

As Americans are enjoying life outdoors more than ever before and wanting to develop a low-maintenance landscape, shrubs that flower over a long period of time can be the answer. As a long time Horticultural professional, Vicki Smith at Lawn and Garden Search (http://www.lgyp.com/) has exciting news and guidance for choosing and using flowering shrubs in the home garden.

Abelia will continue to delight gardeners with their fragrant flowers that continue until frost. Most hardy to Zone 9, the plants are evergreen in much of the country and semi-evergreen through Zone 6 adding lasting color.

Bluebeard Spirea or blue-mist shrub (Caryopteris x clandonensis) and cultivars are hardy as a shrub in much of the country and grown as perennials in colder areas. The rich blues of selected cultivars that maintain the color through fall are a garden addition well worth making since they only need to be planted initially and are quite low-maintenance afterward.

Butterfly-bush (Buddleja, Buddleia) flower throughout the summer into fall. Great for use near patios and decks where the sweet fragrance can be enjoyed, it is also wonderful to see the many butterflies that will visit the plants. Adding plants that also attract wildlife is one of the extras to consider when choosing what to grow.

Chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus) which flowers from June or July through September with fragrant pale violet blooms should be considered for every zone 6-9 garden.

Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia) for Zones 6-9 are handsome shrubs or small trees that bloom from June until September or even October in some areas. Any description does not do the plant justice. Not many shrubs bloom all summer, covered in pink, red, white or lavender blooms.

Encore Azaleas are so different from other Azaleas that the name must be considered and not just think of it as a brand. Encore, meaning come back and give us more (especially for musicians and actors), is exactly what these brightly colored plants do. They flower nicely in spring, form new growth and repeat the blooming in late summer into fall when the added color is so appreciated.

Gardenia (G. jasminoides) or Cape Jasmine growing only up to 5′ in Zones 7-10 is tremendous in May, June and July with exceedingly fragrant blooms. With more outdoor living being enjoyed these days, Gardenia can be trained into a small patio tree too.

Hibiscus, both the more tropical types (H. rosa-sinensis) hardy in Zone 9-12 and grown as houseplants and potted plants on decks and patios in colder parts of the country; and the Rose of Sharon or Shrub Althea (H. syriacus) which is hardy in Zones 5-9 will flower summer into fall with large, vibrant blooms.

Hydrangea of several types but especially the Bigleaf Hydrangeas (H. macrophylla), flower from early summer into fall. Anyone lucky enough to go to Nantucket, MA, in the summer will never forget how the plants billow and brighten every garden. Mixed with roses, they are unforgettable.

Roses can’t be overlooked when considering flowering shrubs for their new projects or to re-invigorate an existing landscape. A huge movement in rose breeding has brought many new pest-free and disease-free landscape roses in a multitude of colors that will blend with any garden color decor. To get a flowering shrub that flowers spring through frost and is low maintenance is exactly what today’s busy homeowners are looking for. New roses can be a great answer.

Sweetspire, Virginia Sweetspire or Virginia-willow (Itea virginica), especially the new, dwarf selections like ‘Henry’s Garnet’ and ‘Little Henry’ bloom about four weeks in the summer when few shrubs or trees are blooming. With deep fragrance and spectacular fall foliage colors, they continue to give even when not in flower.

Weigela or Old-fashioned Weigela is having a resurgence with several new cultivars selected for their multi-season effect. ‘Wine and Roses’ and the even smaller-growing ‘Midnight Wine’ bloom bright pink for about 4 weeks. With dark burgundy foliage that blends well with Blue-spirea / Caryopteris (described above) and yellow flowering perennials like Coreopsis and Black Eyed Susan, these are plants that can be enjoyed all summer.

With so much focus on outdoor living and container gardening, utilizing these dynamic shrubs will add excitement to the patio, deck, landscape, or in raised planters mixed with perennials, ornamental grasses, annuals or even tropicals. It only takes a few minutes of time and minimal effort to gain incredible color all season. Visitors and friends coming to the home will feel welcome and admire the beauty too.

Local garden centers will continue to offer potted shrubs that are ready to plant and enjoy for instant impact. Visiting the nursery every several weeks during the summer will ensure that the home gardener can continue to add bright splashes of mid and late season color to the landscape and continue to enjoy the effect year after year.

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







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Ashton Woods Homes Acquires 40 Prime Homesites in Seville, AZ

February 7, 2012 admin Gardening And Outdoor

Ashton Woods Homes Acquires 40 Prime Homesites in Seville, AZ










Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) January 31, 2012

Ashton Woods Homes, a premiere builder of eco-friendly and energy-efficient new homes, today announced that they had recently acquired 40 prime homesites in the master planned community of Seville, AZ.

Headquartered in Atlanta Georgia, Ashton Woods builds high-performance new homes in growth communities in Phoenix, Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Killeen, Orlando, Raleigh, San Antonio and Tampa. Close to jobs, schools, shopping and transportation, Ashton Woods effectively balances healthy-house features with energy efficiency in their Power House Green homes – which can save families as much as 45% per year on utility bills.

The prestigious Las Colinas community will offer two single-level plans at 1,992 and 2,381 square feet and two two-story models, at 3,330 and 3,884 square feet. These spacious floorplans are surrounded by hundreds of acres of open space, walking paths, playgrounds, ramadas, and sports courts for residents. Additionally, the community is home to the Seville Golf and Country Club – a Gary Panks-designed 18-hole golf course with a large clubhouse, fitness, swimming, and tennis facilities. Membership to the Seville Golf and Country Club are available for homeowners of Las Colinas at Seville.

Families looking at homes for sale in Seville, Phoenix area new homes, or Gilbert new homes will find Las Colinas at Seville located in a geographically desirable area of Gilbert; just minutes away from the 202 freeway and close to the Chandler Municipal and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airports. Residents of Las Colinas at Seville can also enjoy outdoor activities at nearby San Tan Mountain Regional Park.

Interested homebuyers should contact Cheryl Kelley at Ashton Woods Homes, directly at this link: http://goo.gl/J7JxX.

For additional information, visit http://www.ashtonwoods.com/phoenix.

About Ashton Woods Homes

Ashton Woods Homes is one of the nation’s largest private homebuilding companies, with operations in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Killeen, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio, Raleigh and Tampa. For more information, visit http://www.ashtonwoodshomes.com.

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







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Avant Garden Introduces New Online Garden D

January 25, 2012 admin Gardening And Outdoor

Avant Garden Introduces New Online Garden Décor Designer Tool











Avant Views Outdoor Interactive Designer

Lititz, PA (Vocus) August 24, 2010

Dubbed the “Avant Views Outdoor Designer,” this innovative tool provides users with a menu of deck, patio, porch, yard and urban outdoor scenes, a versatile array of garden décor products and accessories, and a palette of flowers and foliage enabling you to mix, match and design an outdoor space any way you choose. A size scaling tool allows to place products and plants exactly where the user wants them.

Avant™ Garden décor collections offer innovative items for outdoor living areas and reflect designs inspired by both new trends and classic traditions from around the world.

Useful to the avid or amateur gardener, homeowner or decorator, the tool also offers design assistance through an optional utility that will place suggested products in the chosen outdoor scene.

The “Avant Views Outdoor Designer” also allows users to save and print their designs including a complete shopping list that details all of the products and plants used in their design which can be taken to a local home improvement store for purchase. Items can also be easily added to the shopping cart in AvantGardenDecor.com.

For more information, visit:

AvantGardenDecor.com

Avant Views Outdoor Designer

About Avant™ Garden

Avant Garden is the premier brand of innovative outdoor living décor. From stylish coco planters and baskets, to flower box holders, plant stands, and fire pits – it’s the one stop brand for all outdoor décor needs. Avant™ Garden also offers garden helpers, such as garden stakes, accessories, and various plant saucers that meet the demands of both gardening hobbyists and enthusiasts alike.

Avant™ Garden is a registered trademark of Woodstream Corp.

About Woodstream Corp:

Woodstream Corporation is a long-standing, privately held company and a leading manufacturer and marketer of quality-branded wild bird feeders, rodent control products, caring control products for pets and wildlife, decorative garden accents & natural solutions for lawn and gardens.

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







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OpenLink?s Dodd-Frank Regulatory Solution Packages – Accelerated Compliance

January 24, 2012 admin Gardening And Outdoor

OpenLink’s Dodd-Frank Regulatory Solution Packages – Accelerated Compliance










New York, NY (PRWEB) January 24, 2012

OpenLink Financial LLC (OpenLink), a leading provider of cross-asset trading, risk management and operations processing software solutions, announced today initiatives focused on accelerating compliance with Dodd-Frank regulatory milestones scheduled for 2012.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act makes significant changes to regulation of the U.S. over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives market, with the goals of improving transparency, reducing systemic default risk, and promoting market integrity. OpenLink is dedicated to addressing the impact this will have on financial institutions – including regulatory reporting requirements, position limits, and OTC central clearing.

Phil Wang, SVP of Product Management at OpenLink, noted, “Our suite of regulatory compliance solutions will enable clients to leverage their previous technology investment in OpenLink to comply with these new requirements and the accompanying changes that will transform the derivatives trading landscape. The goal has been to facilitate compliance with cost-efficient solutions that can be rapidly deployed and flexible enough to adapt to forthcoming changes as they are introduced.”

Highlights of OpenLink’s Dodd-Frank compliance initiatives include:


Dodd-Frank Regulatory Compliance Reporting Package – a suite of reports for regulatory reporting, including the CFTC Large Trader Report for Physical Commodity Swaps.

CFTC Position Limits Monitoring – real-time limit monitoring to comply with CFTC position limits in aggregate for both OTC and exchange-traded products.

Swap Data Repository (SDR) Reporting – gateways for real-time reporting to SDRs available by asset class. Alternatively, standard FpML and FIX gateways can facilitate internal connectivity initiatives.

OTC Clearing Workflows – OpenLink’s trade processing workflows have been extended for the lifecycle of OTC cleared derivative products, from execution, to confirmation, matching and clearing. Connectivity options to CCPs and clearing houses are also available.

Margin Analytics for Cleared Swaps – analysis tools for the calculation, validation and reconciliation of initial margin for cleared derivatives. This will be essential for assessing impacts on liquidity and collateral as well as improving the operational efficiency of portfolio reconciliation and margin management processes.

OpenLink is committed to staying at the forefront of Dodd-Frank regulatory reform, working closely with clients, regulatory agencies, clearing houses, clearing members, service providers and trade data repositories to keep pace with the rapidly evolving derivatives landscape. OpenLink continues to provide leading technology solutions for the energy and financial services markets with its suite of Dodd-Frank regulatory compliance solutions.

About OpenLink

Founded in 1992, OpenLink provides decision support software solutions for transaction lifecycle management. This encompasses financial and physical cross-asset trading, risk management, related operations processing and portfolio management for commodity, energy and financial services markets and industries globally.

OpenLink’s client base of more than 540 clients worldwide includes 12 of the top 25 largest commodity and energy companies by market capitalization, eight of the largest financial institutions and 11 of the largest central banks, as well as major hedge funds, commodities companies and public utilities.

Headquartered on Long Island, New York and with offices in New York City, Houston, Dallas, Tulsa, London, Berlin, Vienna, São Paulo, Sydney, Singapore, Moscow, Toronto, and Dubai, OpenLink has more than 1,300 employees worldwide.

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







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Groundwork Retail Stores & Supreme Bean Enter Strategic Partnership

January 16, 2012 admin Gardening And Outdoor

Groundwork Retail Stores & Supreme Bean Enter Strategic Partnership











North Hollywood, CA (PRWEB) January 16, 2012

The newly formed Groundwork Coffee Company, LLC is a custom blend of two leading pioneers of the Los Angeles specialty coffee scene: organic roaster/retailer, Groundwork Coffee Company and roaster/wholesaler Supreme Bean and its on-set coffee/catering company, Joe to Go Coffee Service. The companies recently merged resources to create one of the preeminent independent coffee companies in Greater Los Angeles. This strategic partnership will result in “farm to cup” oversight and providing superior organic products, service and sustainability throughout the supply chain.

The team at the helm of the newly formed company will be native Angelenos and veterans of the LA coffee scene, Richard Karno and Jeff Chean, (founder of Groundwork Coffee and Supreme Bean Coffee Roasters, respectively). who will continue in their current roles overseeing and developing the cafes, coffee and company vision. Edward Cola and Steven Levan will oversee the finances and operations.

“We’ve created a one-stop coffee source for our customers, explains Steven Levan, “it is an expansion of our philosophy and commitment to handcrafted products, embracing best practices in all segments of our business: importing, Fair and fairly traded coffee, roasting, wholesaling, etc, all under the umbrella of operating sustainably and being a responsible member of the communities we serve.” Levan, who was also born in L.A., points to the homegrown aspect of the new coffee company. “Three of the principle partners were born and raised in Los Angeles, so we think we have an understanding and appreciation for the city and what makes it unique. The goal is to have that appreciation carry over into our company operations,” Levan said.

Founded in Santa Monica in 1990, Groundwork Coffee Company imports and roasts organic, Fairly-Traded beans for its six cafés (four on the west side, one in Hollywood, one downtown) in metropolitan Los Angeles. Groundwork’s cafés have distinguished themselves in serving a variety of 100% organic, single origin and custom blended coffees, premium teas and an appealing selection of signature baked goods, sandwiches, soups, salads and entrees. In addition to the café service, Supreme Bean, brings a “culinary approach to coffee” and more than a decade’s worth of experience supplying fine restaurants, coffee houses and caterers with roast-to-order heirloom specialty coffees, ancillary products, equipment and consulting services to the new venture. In 2008, Supreme Bean joined forces with Joe to Go Coffee Service, the first catering company to bring specialty and flavored coffees to the backlots of Hollywood. Established in 1994, Joe to Go proved itself in the demanding environment of Hollywood production and has become the coffee service of choice for The Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Latin Grammy Awards, The Screen Actor Guild Awards, the Tonight Show, numerous episodic television shows, film sets and offices.

While quality products and service are critical to a company’s success, sustainability is also a cornerstone of Groundwork’s operations. In 2011, the company commissioned construction of a new state of the art coffee roaster. The new roaster was custom designed to lower the carbon footprint of the coffee roasting process while additionally allowing more control over and expression through the machine. Built with the latest green burner and revolutionary emissions control technology, the roaster utilizes dual catalytic converters and the recapture of waste heat. Plans are in motion to complement the roaster with a solar power system that will produce 90%-95% of the roastery operations electrical needs. Supreme Bean was recognized by the Southern California Gas Company for its innovative and one-of-a-kind coffee roaster’s dramatic savings in fuel, reduction of emissions and efficiency. Finding the optimal combination to enhance coffee quality while reducing its emissions and reliance on the Grid demonstrates Groundwork’s commitment to sustainability.

Some of Groundwork’s vehicle fleet is powered by natural gas instead of petroleum and the company has plans to convert the bulk of its vehicles to clean burning fuels.

Recycling and reuse are also employed to further reduce the company’s carbon footprint. All burlap and jute coffee sacks are repurposed through a network of landscape architects and beekeepers. Cardboard boxes and paper goods used in the roastery and retail outlets are recycled through community programs. All to-go containers in retail stores are made from partial post consumer recycled materials. Each Groundwork retail store is equipped with separated recycling containers for glass, paper and plastic items. Customers are actively encouraged to reuse and recycle all coffee containers. Discount on drinks are given to customers when they bring their own cups, purchase bulk coffee beans and/or reuse Groundwork coffee bags or cans. Additionally, Groundwork makes its used organic coffee grounds and chaff available to all customers and community groups as compost for gardening.

The company is an active citizen in the communities served, supporting KCRW-FM (NPR affiliate), Step Up Woman’s Network, St Barnabas Senior Services, LA Conservation Core, Surf Aid International, the new Downtown Women’s Center and numerous local education and religious organizations.

Groundwork Coffee Company LLC is a specialty coffee resource dedicated to the highest quality standards. Headquartered in North Hollywood, California, Groundwork operates 6 retail stores, and collaborates with Supreme Bean LLC/Joe to Go in running an artisan roasting facility, a regional wholesale distribution network and a premium coffee catering company. Groundwork/Supreme Bean’s mission is to produce and distribute hand crafted and unique products while encouraging full sustainability throughout the supply chain. Groundwork products are NOP-USDA Certified Organic by C.C.O.F and RCC & KSA Kosher. Groundwork and Supreme Bean are Fairtrade and Fairtrade USA Licensed Partners. Corporate headquarters are located at 5457 Cleon Avenue North Hollywood, CA 91601. 818-506-6020.

http://lacoffee.com

http://www.thesupremebean.com/index.html

http://joetogo.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/groundwork-coffee-company/73746386919

https://twitter.com/#!/groundworkLA

Note: jpgs of the three logos are available.

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







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Herbalist-Mathematicians Transform Clinical Herbal Education With Game Software

January 6, 2012 admin Gardening And Outdoor

Herbalist-Mathematicians Transform Clinical Herbal Education With Game Software












(PRWEB) January 05, 2012

Scientists and engineers at the Rocky Mountain Herbal Institute have developed interactive game software that helps health professionals and students learn the ancient art of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The software can simulate the ambiguities and randomness of symptom clusters appearing in real people, improving herbalists’ clinical skills.

Roger Wicke, PhD, director of RMHI, says that many authors and teachers of Chinese herbology have attempted to simplify it by “medicalizing” it, creating simplistic charts that purport to match appropriate herbs and formulas to specific medical diseases. (“What herb is good for disease X?”) However, he believes that this is the most common reason why people may experience lack of results or side effects from herbs.

A guiding principle of Chinese herbology is that one must consider the body’s entire pattern of responses to disease and environmental stressors as a first step toward determining appropriate diet and herbal formulas. Wicke explains that while many herbalists endorse this idea, which has been central to the holistic health movement, it is difficult to achieve in practice. Whether in modern medicine or Chinese herbology, an individual’s total set of symptoms rarely matches a textbook pattern or definition, making evaluation of clinical strategy options challenging.

Wicke decided to call the new software “HerbalThink-TCM”, because it challenges users with clinically relevant puzzles that require thought and deliberation rather than mere recall of isolated facts. Users must identify patterns within the random variations and ambiguous meanings of real symptoms. For example, in a case of poor appetite, loose bowels, and chronic fatigue, one must decide if this cluster of three symptoms provides enough information to choose an appropriate herbal formula, according to traditional theory. In this example, it does not. At least 12 distinct patterns could potentially explain these three symptoms, with different herbal formulas being appropriate for each pattern, so one must ask questions that will help identify the true underlying pattern. The software evaluates users’ skill in asking targeted questions that reveal the correct pattern most quickly.

Palpation of the radial pulse at the wrist for qualities indicative of specific clinical patterns has historically been an important tool of traditional Chinese herbalists. HerbalThink-TCM includes a module called the TCM Pulse Simulator, which allows users to visually simulate, in three dimensions and time, the tactile sensation that a specific pulse would create beneath one’s fingertips. These simulations quickly clarify confusing and ambiguous terminology that has until now made learning traditional pulse palpation methods time-consuming and difficult. Users of the software can easily simulate over 900 million distinct pulse variations by changing the values of 12 independent pulse parameters, such as rate, rhythm irregularities, strength, pulse time profile, depth, etc.

Although computer simulators have been used to train medical students for several decades, Chinese herbology is often taught by rote memorization, as it has been for over a thousand years. According to Wicke, “Clinical skills in Chinese herbology, much like skill in playing chess, cannot be achieved merely by memorizing game rules. With HerbalThink-TCM, skill is achieved by playing numerous games over time. Users gain experience from their mistakes with simulated clinical puzzles before they ever begin to practice on real people.”

HerbalThink-TCM has been used in RMHI courses since the year 2000. Wicke explains that in the early years it was optional, but users’ clinical skills improved so markedly that he began requiring it of all his students.

Wicke earned his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1980. He began studying Chinese herbology with Chinese herbalists in San Francisco for personal health reasons. Since 1992, he has collaborated with Curt Kruse, his nephew and a former geophysicist with a background in artificial intelligence, to develop HerbalThink-TCM.

This latest software upgrade, version 4.0, incorporates information as diverse as herbal pharmacology and phytochemistry databases, applied mathematics of clinical pattern recognition, and the effects of music on health. Wicke has found that listening to certain types of music can enhance students’ creative thinking and pattern-recognition abilities. The course material accompanying the software explains how the same patterns that Chinese herbalists use to choose herbs and formulas can be applied to understanding why a piece of music might give one person a headache, yet trigger profound emotional insights in another.

RMHI plans periodic major upgrades in the HerbalThink-TCM database and game software over the next decade. Wicke and Kruse evaluate feedback from student users and observe their effectiveness in analyzing real clinical cases to help refine the software and integrate new features.

With the downturn in the world economy and increasing tuition fees at colleges and universities, RMHI believes that there will be an increasing demand for herbal distance-learning education and interactive educational software. Herbs have provided an inexpensive mode of health care for the world’s people throughout human history. RMHI hopes that its software will make this knowledge accessible to aspiring herbalists who would not otherwise be able to afford tuition at a full-time college, as well as health professionals who cannot take off from work to attend classes.

A free version of the software, with access to the first 85 hours of RMHI’s Level-1 course, is available for download from RMHI’s website: http://www.rmhiherbal.org

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







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Two Run Creek Farms Launches New Website

January 1, 2012 admin Gardening And Outdoor

Two Run Creek Farms Launches New Website











Two Run Creek Farms, LLC, is a North Georgia nursery founded on the belief that quality will endure.


Cartersville, GA (Vocus/PRWEB) February 07, 2011

Landscapers searching for the perfect trees or shrubs to complement their latest project now have a new resource available. Two Run Creek Farms, a North Georgia-based nursery, recently unveiled its new website, http://www.tworuncreekfarms.com. The website, designed by mRELEVANCE, LLC, allows visitors to view detailed descriptions and pictures of trees and shrubs available through the nursery. A blog on the site highlights specific trees for sale and offers landscaping tips and creative uses. Viewers can also see pricing information and fill out a contact form for specific inquiries.

“This website will allow us to reach out to more landscapers and showcase our inventory,” said Bill Flammer, founder of Two Run Creek Farms. “Today’s discerning buyer is demanding high quality landscaping materials and we have lots of choices – all ready to dig.”

Two Run Creek Farms offers a variety of landscaping trees and shrubs including:


“Bloodgood” Japanese maple
“Legacy” sugar maple
Catalpa tree
Cryptomeria “Radicans”
Cryptomeria “Yoshino”
“Electra Blue” Deodar cedar
Ligustrum “Wax Leaf”
Rose of Sharon
Viburnum “Chinese Snowball”
Arbovitae “Green Giant”

About Two Run Creek Farms: Two Run Creek Farms, LLC, is a North Georgia nursery founded on the belief that quality will endure. Founded in 2006 by Bill Flammer, this nursery produces ornamental trees and shrubs that will satisfy even the most demanding landscaper. Two Run Creek Farms, LLC has operations in Walker County and Bartow County where each specimen is grown and cultivated. For more information, call 770-265-5205 or visit http://www.tworuncreekfarms.com.

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Vocus©Copyright 1997-

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Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







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Soiltac

December 20, 2011 admin Gardening And Outdoor

Soiltac® Soil Stabilizer and Dust Control Agent Utilized For Adot Unpaved Road Projects










(PRWEB) December 7, 2005

Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) approved and successfully applied Soiltac® copolymer emulsion (http://www.soiltac.com/ ) as a new and more economical method for soil stabilization and dust control. The Soiltac® dirt road stabilization product has been proven to stabilize poor soils on unpaved roads.

ADOT and the City of Mesa recognized the benefit of utilizing Soiltac® to suppress dust and improve the strength, stiffness and durability of the soft subgrade soils that make up many of their unpaved dirt roads. When used to solidify poor subgrade soils on unpaved roads, the Soiltac® soil stabilization solution reduces the required thickness of overlying asphalt pavement or other types of wear surfaces as well as increasing the useful life of the road. Furthermore, Soiltac’s® ability to stabilize almost any type of native soil or aggregate provides a significant cost savings over the costly traditional method of importing suitable aggregate to replace the existing native soil road base. This revolutionary road dust control and soil stabilization product is environmentally safe and is one of the first genuinely biodegradable soil stabilizers (http://www.soiltac.com/Environmental_Data.html). Unlike most soil stabilizers and dust control products currently on the market, Soiltac® does not contain any byproducts and is manufactured to a patented formula using strict engineering specifications.

Soilworks®, LLC is the innovator and manufacturer of Soiltac® liquid soil stabilizer and dust control agent. Soiltac® is a cost effective and innovative dust suppressant that is engineered for today’s challenging soil stabilization and dust control needs (http://www.soiltac.com/Product_Information.html). This revolutionary product is a highly concentrated copolymer emulsion. The key to Soiltac’s® exceptional performance is its ability to form strong yet flexible three-dimensional bonds between soil and aggregate particles. Soiltac® is designed to be extremely durable and resistant to water, sun, alkaline and daily use. It can be as simple to apply as watering the ground. Furthermore, the Soiltac® road dust control agent is designed to be diluted with water and work its way down into the soil to maximize the penetration depth and minimize dust. Once cured, Soiltac® becomes completely transparent, leaving the natural landscape to appear untouched. Soiltac’s® results are based on the application rate used (http://www.soiltac.com/Application_Rates.html). Modest applications can create a light temporary surface crust that is ideal for erosion control and dust control needs. Heavier applications of Soiltac® can generate results similar to the qualities of cement or a low cost alternative to traditional asphalt paving.

The United States Army Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) and the Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) have evaluated many of Soilworks’® soil stabilizers, dirt road sealers and dust control agents, including Soiltac® (http://www.soiltac.com/Tests_Evaluations.html). As a result, all of the company’s products, Soiltac®, Gorilla-Snot®, Surtac® and Durasoil® continue to receive dust suppression and desert soil stabilization contracts as well as GSA orders (https://www.gsaadvantage.gov) to aid the United States Department of Defense for domestic and international theater operations, including Iraq.

ADOT’s use of Soiltac® was heavily weighted by its proven soil stabilization performance, unique characteristics and ability to save money over traditional dust control and road building methods (http://www.soiltac.com/FAQ.html). Soiltac® was applied by Cactus Transport, Inc. of Tolleson, AZ as well as its sub contractor, Asphalt Busters, Inc. of Phoenix, AZ. The Soiltac® was mixed into the existing native soil road base using a computerized distributor truck and an industrial road reclaimer to maximize efficiency (http://www.soiltac.com/Application_Equipment.html). The uniformly mixed base course was then compacted and allowed to dry and cure into a dense permanent base. Following the application of the surface wear course for dust suppression, the roads were then opened to traffic.

From unpaved heavy haul road soil stabilization to a light crust for construction site fugitive dust control, Soiltac® is actively solving soil stabilization and dust control challenges throughout the world’s residential, industrial, commercial and military markets. For more information on Soiltac® dirt road sealer, dust suppression and soil stabilization products please visit http://www.soiltac.com or call 1-800-545-5420.

Contact: Chad Falkenberg

President/Owner

Phone: (800) 545-5420

Mobile: (602) 758-6465

Fax: (480) 545-5456

Website: http://www.Soilworks.com

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Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Not Silent Nights for More Than 4,000 NYC Jewish Singles at ‘The Ball’

December 19, 2011 admin Gardening And Outdoor

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Not Silent Nights for More Than 4,000 NYC Jewish Singles at ‘The Ball’













The Ball, a massive Jewish Singles event in NYC, encompasses five nightclubs.


New York, NYC (PRWEB) December 18, 2011

Originally designed as an alternative for Jewish Singles left with few entertainment options on their single most silent night of the year, “The Ball”, now in its 17th year, has become a NYC Jewish tradition during the Christmas holiday.

Sponsored by LetMyPeopleGo.com, The Ball in NYC has been the country’s biggest Jewish Singles party 16 years in a row (see videos of The Ball) and more than 4,000 Jewish Singles attend annually. The event is not only the country’s biggest “Jewish Singles event” but it’s also the biggest “singles event” of any kind.

In order to accommodate the overwhelming turnout, The Ball 2011 will take over four major nightclubs simultaneously on Saturday, December 24 (8 pm – 4 am): The Gallery at the Dream Downtown Hotel, Hiro, The Park and Marquee. Party-goers will even be provided with a fleet of Hummer and Escalade limousines (each seating 20) to hop from party to party!

An after-party follows the next night, Sunday, December 25, at Ph-D Penthouse at the Dream Downtown Hotel, the “trendiest hotspot in NYC” per NBC New York.

“People join us from as far away as Europe or Australia,” says party founder Jeff Strank, “Christmas Eve has become like New Year’s Eve for Jewish Singles – the one night of the year when everyone makes plans in advance to get together, go out and meet new people, and catch up with old friends.”

“Jewniversal Passes,” available at TheBall2011.com ($ 30 in advance; $ 35-$ 40 at the door) admit party-goers to all four hip Manhattan nightspots on Christmas Eve – offering a host of entertainment options including 7 DJs, 6 lounges, live performances, high-flying aerialists and an outdoor Garden Party – and provide complimentary use of the fleet of limousines for party-hopping. A “Jewniversal Plus Pass” ($ 55) provides admission to the after-party the next night, as well.

On the West Coast, nearly 1000 Jewish partygoers are expected to attend “The Ball 2011 in LA” at “My House” (7080 Hollywood Boulevard), “Hollywood’s hippest pad.” The event runs from 8pm – 2am on Saturday, December 24, and is co-sponsored by the LA Guardians, a charitable organization supporting The Guardians of the LA Jewish Home for the Aging.

LetMyPeopleGo.com has organized the nation’s best-attended Jewish Singles events since 1995. For further information, please contact Jeff Strank at (917) 692-6564.

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